U.S. patent application number 14/755227 was filed with the patent office on 2016-01-07 for print control method and recording medium storing print control program.
This patent application is currently assigned to Ricoh Company, Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Kenichi FUJIOKA, Masahiro FUKUDA, Yukihiro HAYAKAWA, Kanna IINUMA, Yusuke KAWATSU, Ken MITSUI, Megumi OKUMURA, Mitsutaka TAKEDA, Akira TERUYA, Naoyuki URATA, Teruyoshi YAMAMOTO, Yuu YAMASHITA. Invention is credited to Kenichi FUJIOKA, Masahiro FUKUDA, Yukihiro HAYAKAWA, Kanna IINUMA, Yusuke KAWATSU, Ken MITSUI, Megumi OKUMURA, Mitsutaka TAKEDA, Akira TERUYA, Naoyuki URATA, Teruyoshi YAMAMOTO, Yuu YAMASHITA.
Application Number | 20160004484 14/755227 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55017048 |
Filed Date | 2016-01-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160004484 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YAMAMOTO; Teruyoshi ; et
al. |
January 7, 2016 |
PRINT CONTROL METHOD AND RECORDING MEDIUM STORING PRINT CONTROL
PROGRAM
Abstract
Disclosed is a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium
storing a print control program, which when executed by a
processor, causes an information processing apparatus connected to
a printer via a network to perform a process. The process includes
causing a screen generator to generate a plurality of screens via
which respective instructions for a plurality of print settings are
received from a user, causing a display controller to display
setting items corresponding to the screens in a predetermined
order, and control switching between the screens based on the
respective instructions corresponding to the setting items received
from the user, and causing a print setting limiter to limit the
respective print settings, for which the respective instructions
are received from the user via the respective screens, based on the
predetermined order of the setting items.
Inventors: |
YAMAMOTO; Teruyoshi; (Tokyo,
JP) ; URATA; Naoyuki; (Kanagawa, JP) ; IINUMA;
Kanna; (Kanagawa, JP) ; FUJIOKA; Kenichi;
(Kanagawa, JP) ; FUKUDA; Masahiro; (Tokyo, JP)
; HAYAKAWA; Yukihiro; (Kanagawa, JP) ; YAMASHITA;
Yuu; (Kanagawa, JP) ; TERUYA; Akira;
(Kanagawa, JP) ; MITSUI; Ken; (Kanagawa, JP)
; TAKEDA; Mitsutaka; (Tokyo, JP) ; KAWATSU;
Yusuke; (Tokyo, JP) ; OKUMURA; Megumi; (Tokyo,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
YAMAMOTO; Teruyoshi
URATA; Naoyuki
IINUMA; Kanna
FUJIOKA; Kenichi
FUKUDA; Masahiro
HAYAKAWA; Yukihiro
YAMASHITA; Yuu
TERUYA; Akira
MITSUI; Ken
TAKEDA; Mitsutaka
KAWATSU; Yusuke
OKUMURA; Megumi |
Tokyo
Kanagawa
Kanagawa
Kanagawa
Tokyo
Kanagawa
Kanagawa
Kanagawa
Kanagawa
Tokyo
Tokyo
Tokyo |
|
JP
JP
JP
JP
JP
JP
JP
JP
JP
JP
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Ricoh Company, Ltd.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
55017048 |
Appl. No.: |
14/755227 |
Filed: |
June 30, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
358/1.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/1205 20130101;
G06F 3/1253 20130101; G06F 3/1285 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/12 20060101
G06F003/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 1, 2014 |
JP |
2014-136150 |
May 12, 2015 |
JP |
2015-097519 |
Claims
1. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a
print control program, which when executed by a processor, causes
an information processing apparatus connected to a printer via a
network to perform a process, the process comprising: causing a
screen generator to generate a plurality of screens via which
respective instructions for a plurality of print settings are
received from a user; causing a display controller to display
setting items corresponding to the screens in a predetermined
order, and control switching between the screens based on the
respective instructions corresponding to the setting items received
from the user; and causing a print setting limiter to limit the
respective print settings, for which the respective instructions
are received from the user via the respective screens, based on the
predetermined order of the setting items.
2. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium as claimed
in claim 1, wherein the setting items handled by the display
controller include a layout setting, a sheet setting, a finishing
setting, a detailed page setting, and a color adjustment setting,
and wherein the predetermined order indicates an order of the
layout setting, the sheet setting, the finishing setting, the
detailed page setting, and the color adjustment setting.
3. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium as claimed
in claim 1, wherein when there is an exclusive relationship between
a higher-order print setting for which an instruction is received
based on the screen corresponding to the setting item displayed at
a higher-order position in the predetermined order and a
lower-order print setting for which an instruction is received
based on the screen corresponding to the setting item displayed at
a lower-order position in the predetermined order, the print
setting limiter limits the lower-order print setting.
4. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium as claimed
in claim 1, the process further comprising: causing a positional
information storage part to store positional information indicating
one of the screens via which the instructions for the plurality of
the print settings are received; and causing a limit information
generator to generate limit information for limiting the plurality
of the print settings based on the positional information and the
predetermined order of the setting items, wherein the print setting
limiter limits the plurality of the print settings for which the
instructions are received from the user based on the limit
information generated by the limit information generator.
5. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium as claimed
in claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is
connected via the network to a controller externally attached to
the printer and configured to perform image processing at high
rates, wherein the print control program is executed to construct a
printer driver function to perform the plurality of the print
settings by utilizing a user interface connected to a display part
and an operations part, and wherein the screen generator initially
displays an output selection screen associated with a print output
to which the user is able to optionally set a value by specifying
operations via the operations part, and displays on the display
part categories of the user interface in a print process order.
6. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium as claimed
in claim 5, wherein the screen generator provides the display part
with a screen for a user to check, at a desired time, a condition
under which functions of a lower-order category of the user
interface are limited.
7. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium as claimed
in claim 5, wherein the print setting limiter limits functions of a
same category of the user interface by placing higher priorities on
higher-order print settings for which respective instructions are
received based on the screens corresponding to the setting items
displayed at higher-order positions in the predetermined order, and
placing lower priorities on lower-order print settings for which
respective instructions are received based on the screens
corresponding to the setting items displayed at lower-order
positions in the predetermined order.
8. A print control method for use in an information processing
apparatus connected to a printer via a network, the print control
method comprising: causing a screen generator to generate a
plurality of screens via which respective instructions for a
plurality of print settings are received from a user, the screen
generator being constructed within the information processing
apparatus; causing a display controller to display setting items
corresponding to the screens in a predetermined order, and control
switching between the screens based on the respective instructions
corresponding to the setting items received from the user, the
display controller being constructed within the information
processing apparatus; and causing a print setting limiter to limit
the respective print settings, for which the respective
instructions are received from the user via the respective screens,
based on the predetermined order of the setting items, the print
setting limiter being constructed within the information processing
apparatus.
9. The print control method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
setting items handled by the display controller include a layout
setting, a sheet setting, a finishing setting, a detailed page
setting, and a color adjustment setting, and wherein the
predetermined order indicates an order of the layout setting, the
sheet setting, the finishing setting, the detailed page setting,
and the color adjustment setting.
10. The print control method as claimed in claim 8, wherein when
there is an exclusive relationship between a higher-order print
setting for which an instruction is received based on the screen
corresponding to the setting item displayed at a higher-order
position in the predetermined order and a lower-order print setting
for which an instruction is received based on the screen
corresponding to the setting item displayed at a lower-order
position in the predetermined order, the print setting limiter
limits the lower-order print setting.
11. The print control method as claimed in claim 8, further
comprising: causing a positional information storage part to store
positional information indicating one of the screens via which the
instructions for the plurality of the print settings are received,
the positional information storage part being constructed within
the information processing apparatus; and causing a limit
information generator to generate limit information for limiting
the plurality of the print settings based on the positional
information and the predetermined order of the setting items, the
limit information generator being constructed within the
information processing apparatus, wherein the print setting limiter
limits the plurality of the print settings for which the
instructions are received from the user based on the limit
information generated by the limit information generator.
12. The print control method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
information processing apparatus is connected via the network to a
controller externally attached to the printer and configured to
perform image processing at high rates, wherein the print control
program is executed to construct a printer driver function to
perform the plurality of the print settings by utilizing a user
interface connected to a display part and an operations part, and
wherein the screen generator initially displays an output selection
screen associated with a print output to which the user is able to
optionally set a value by specifying operations via the operations
part, and displays on the display part categories of the user
interface in a print process order.
13. The print control method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the
screen generator provides the display part with a screen for a user
to check, at a desired time, a condition under which functions of a
lower-order category of the user interface are limited.
14. The print control method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the
print setting limiter limits functions of a same category of the
user interface by placing higher priorities on higher-order print
settings for which respective instructions are received based on
the screens corresponding to the setting items displayed at
higher-order positions in the predetermined order, and placing
lower priorities on lower-order print settings for which respective
instructions are received based on the screens corresponding to the
setting items displayed at lower-order positions in the
predetermined order.
15. An information processing apparatus connected to a printer via
a network, the information processing apparatus comprising: a
screen generator configured to generate a plurality of screens via
which respective instructions for a plurality of print settings are
received from a user; a display controller configured to display
setting items corresponding to the screens in a predetermined
order, and control switching between the screens based on the
respective instructions corresponding to the setting items received
from the user; and a print setting limiter configured to limit the
respective print settings for which the instructions are received
from the user via the respective screens based on the predetermined
order of the setting items.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The disclosures herein generally relate an information
processing apparatus, a print control method for use in the
information processing apparatus, and a non-transitory
computer-readable recording medium storing a print control
program.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] There is provided an externally provided DFE (digital front
end) controller for performing high-speed image processing. The DFE
controller is connected via a network to client PCs (personal
computers) serving as information processing apparatuses, each of
which is provided with a printer driver function to handle print
settings.
[0005] In the production printing industry, output printed matter
often directly serves as a product (commercial product).
Accordingly, in the printer driver for use in the production
printing, it is necessary to initially set a desired product to be
created, and subsequently specify settings for the desired product
such as an imposition, a type of paper, a type of finishing, and
the like. Further, the cost of the production printing not only
includes the cost of producing the printed matter, but also
includes a time for performing settings for the product. Hence, it
is necessary not only for experienced operators but also for
inexperienced operators to create the desired print product
(output) as quickly as they can without hesitation.
[0006] Thus, there have been proposed technologies for constructing
printer drivers employing user interfaces capable of creating the
print product (output) by reducing steps of operations without
allowing those inexperienced operators to hesitate to perform the
operations.
[0007] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2005-25304
(hereinafter referred to as "Patent Document 1"), for example,
discloses "an electronic application system, an electronic
application method, and a program" for facilitating online creation
or online submission of documents as a technology well-known in the
art.
[0008] In the printer drivers having user interfaces to which the
electronic application system according to Patent Document 1 is
applied, the operator needs to select a desired one of comparative
types of driver functions for production printing. Hence, operators
who are inexperienced with the drivers may be confused, and may
select items that are not related to the desired output result,
despite the fact that the operators have already determined the
desired output. This may lead to erroneous operations. Thus, in the
related art technologies, categories of the user interfaces may
confuse the users of the production printing, which may result in
elongation of operations time due to erroneous settings.
[0009] Specifically, the following case is assumed. For example,
regarding the first driver function, output-conscious settings
reside in an imposition tab but the initial display is set as quick
access. Hence, the user (operator) may fail to recognize that he or
she needs to switch to the layout tab and/or, the user may fail to
recognize how he or she is able to switch to the layout tab.
Further, when print settings are performed in accordance with a
flow of the printing process, settings are performed by switching
to an imposition tab, a sheet tab, a finishing tab, and the sheet
tab, in this order, and the user may fail to know how he or she is
able to perform settings. In addition, since all the values for the
finishing may be settable regardless of the print settings of the
layout and the sheet, the value for the finishing may be wrongly
specified, leading to erroneous operations. In addition, the
settings change in the above case may result in the change of the
setting value in the finishing. As a result, the settings or the
like associated with N-Up (i.e., printing data of plural pages in
one page) may be changed, which may confuse the user in identifying
the desired output.
[0010] Similarly, regarding the second driver function, the
settings for the output reside in a central layout tab but the
initial display is a color tab. Hence, the user (operator) who is
desired to select output types may fail to recognize that he or she
needs to switch the color tab to the layout tab.
RELATED ART DOCUMENT
Patent Document
[0011] Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No.
2005-25304
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Accordingly, it is a general object in one embodiment of the
present invention to provide a print control method for use in an
information processing apparatus, and a non-transitory
computer-readable recording medium storing a print control program
capable of facilitating user interface functions to allow a user of
production printing to intuitively handle the user interface
functions by only displaying to the user settable values so as to
reduce erroneous setting operations, which substantially obviate
one or more problems caused by the limitations and disadvantages of
the related art.
[0013] According to an aspect of embodiments, there is disclosed a
non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a print
control program, which when executed by a processor, causes an
information processing apparatus connected to a printer via a
network to perform a process. The process includes causing a screen
generator to generate a plurality of screens via which respective
instructions for a plurality of print settings are received from a
user; causing a display controller to display setting items
corresponding to the screens in a predetermined order, and control
switching between the screens based on the respective instructions
corresponding to the setting items received from the user; and
causing a print setting limiter to limit the respective print
settings, for which the respective instructions are received from
the user via the respective screens, based on the predetermined
order of the setting items.
[0014] According to another aspect of embodiments, there is
provided a print control method for use in an information
processing apparatus connected to a printer via a network. The
print control method includes causing a screen generator to
generate a plurality of screens via which respective instructions
for a plurality of print settings are received from a user, the
screen generator being constructed within the information
processing apparatus; causing a display controller to display
setting items corresponding to the screens in a predetermined
order, and control switching between the screens based on the
respective instructions corresponding to the setting items received
from the user, the display controller being constructed within the
information processing apparatus; and causing a print setting
limiter to limit the respective print settings, for which the
respective instructions are received from the user via the
respective screens, based on the predetermined order of the setting
items, the print setting limiter being constructed within the
information processing apparatus.
[0015] Other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a
basic configuration of a print system including information
processing apparatuses to which a print control program according
to a first embodiment is applied, and a printer configured to
perform color printing;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a basic hardware
configuration of the information processing apparatus disposed in
the print system illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a basic hardware
configuration of the printer disposed in the print system
illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a functional
configuration of a printer driver formed in the information
processing apparatus disposed in the print system illustrated in
FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print
process by production printing associated with a user interface in
the printer driver illustrated in FIG. 4;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display
screen of a display part considering the print process by the
production printing associated with the user interface in the
printer driver illustrated in FIG. 5;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another example of the
display screen of the display part considering the print process by
the production printing associated with the user interface in the
printer driver illustrated in FIG. 5;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating as a process flow
a basic concept of exclusive control performed by a print screen
controller associated with a user interface in the printer driver
illustrated in FIG. 4;
[0024] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the display
screen of the display part in a gray-out process performed by the
print screen controller associated with the user interface in the
printer driver illustrated in FIG. 4;
[0025] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of the
display screen of the display part in the gray-out process
performed by the print screen controller associated with the user
interface in the printer driver illustrated in FIG. 4;
[0026] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another example of the
display screen of the display part in the gray-out process
performed by the print screen controller associated with the user
interface in the printer driver illustrated in FIG. 4;
[0027] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of an exclusive
control list of an exclusive information storage part associated
with the user interface in the printer driver illustrated in FIG.
4;
[0028] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of
the exclusive control performed by the print screen controller
using the exclusive control list illustrated in FIG. 12 as a
process flow;
[0029] FIGS. 14A and 14B are diagrams illustrating control
coordinates and menu coordinates indicating positional information
of screens stored in a print setting value storage part provided
for generating limitation information used in limitation of print
settings performed by the print screen controller formed in the
information processions apparatus of a print system according to a
second embodiment; and
[0030] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating a generation
example of the exclusive control list performed by the print screen
controller with reference to positional information of screens
stored in the print setting value storage part and an exclusive
specification of the exclusive information storage part associated
with the user interface in the printer driver illustrated in FIGS.
14A and 14B as a process flow.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] In the following, a detailed description is given of
embodiments of a print control method, and a print control program
stored in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
First Embodiment
[0032] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a
basic configuration of a print system including information
processing apparatuses to which a print control program according
to a first embodiment is applied, and a printer configured to
perform color printing. The print system is configured to include
three client PCs (personal computers) 1 to 3 serving as information
processing apparatuses connected via a network to a DFE controller
for performing high-speed image processing externally connected to
a color printer. In each of the client PCs 1 to 3, a printer driver
function to set color printing by utilizing a user interface is
constructed by executing the later-described print control
program.
[0033] In the print system, as basic operations, when users operate
the client PCs 1 to 3 to utilize user interfaces to set color
printing, and transfer JDF job tickets to the DFE controller via a
network to transmit print instructions, the DFE controller
translates the received JDF job tickets to transmit the print
instructions to the printer. Note that the number of the connected
client PCs is not limited to three.
[0034] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a basic hardware
configuration of the information processing apparatuses (client PCs
1 to 3). Each of the client PCs 1 to 3 includes a CPU (central
processing unit) having a processor function and serving as a
controller to control operating processes of components of the PC,
a RAM (random access memory) formed of a high-speed information
readable-writable volatile storage medium and serving as a work
area of the CPU for performing information processing, a ROM
(read-only memory) serving as a read-only nonvolatile ROM storing
programs such as firmware, an HDD (hard disk drive) formed of a
nonvolatile information readable-writable storage medium storing an
OS (operating system), various types of control programs,
application programs, and the like, and a network interface (I/F)
that are connected via a bus. Note that the above-described print
control programs are stored in the HDD.
[0035] Of these, the network interface (I/F) is connected to LCD
(liquid crystal display) serving as a display part, and an
operations part, and is used for connecting the bus and the
hardware components, or the network to control the connection. Note
that the respective LCDs are used by users to visually check the
statuses of the client PCs 1 to 3. The operations parts are such as
a keyboard, a mouse, and the like used by the users who input
information into the client PCs 1 to 3. These components function
as user interfaces, respectively.
[0036] Note that in FIG. 2, an illustration is given of the
functional configurations of the client PCs 1 to 3 designed for the
personal computers; however, hardware configurations of servers and
other mobile terminals are formed in a similar manner to those of
the personal computers. Hence, the servers and other mobile
terminals may be substituted for the client PCs 1 to 3.
[0037] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a basic hardware
configuration of a printer 100. The printer 100 is a
multifunctional apparatus designed as a MFP (peripheral functional
peripheral), which includes two or more functions such as a printer
function, a copier function, a scanner function, and a facsimile
function disposed in one housing. The printer 100 is configured to
have a controller 10 and be connected to an engine 60 with a PCI
(peripheral component interface) bus.
[0038] The controller 10 includes a function to control overall
operations, drawing, communications, and inputs from a
not-illustrated operations part. The engine 60 serves as an engine
of the printer connectable to the PCI bus, and may be configured to
include a monochrome plotter, a one drum color plotter, a four drum
color plotter, a scanner, or a facsimile unit. Note that the engine
60 further includes an image processor to perform error diffusion
or gamma conversion, in addition to so-called engine parts such as
a plotter, and the like.
[0039] The controller 10 performs overall control of the printer
100, and is configured to include a CPU 11 connected to other
apparatuses via a chip set composed of a north bridge NB 13, a
system memory MEM-P 12 having a ROM (read only memory) 12a and a
RAM (random access memory) 12b, and a south bridge SB 14; a local
memory MEM-C 17 utilized as a copying image buffer or code buffer;
a hard disk drive HDD 103 that serves as a storage configured to
accumulate image data, programs, font data, forms, and store a
license list of applications executed in the printer 100; and an
ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) 16 that is an IC
(integrated circuit) having image processing hardware components,
designed for the image processing, and serves as a bridge connected
between the north bridge NB 13 and each of an AGP (accelerated
graphical port) bus 15, a PCI bus, the hard disk drive HDD 103, and
the local memory MEM-C 17.
[0040] Of these, the north bridge NB 13 serves as a bridge
connected to the CPU 11, the system memory MEM-P 12, the south
bridge SB 14, and the AGP bus 15, and includes a memory controller
function to control reading or writing with respect to the system
memory MEM-P 12, a PCI master function, and an AGP target
function.
[0041] The system memory MEM-P 12 may be used as a storage memory
to store programs or data, a loading memory in which the programs
or data are loaded, a plotting memory of the printer, and the like,
and configured to include the ROM 12a and the RAM 12b. The ROM 12a
is a read only memory used as a storage to store programs or data,
the RAM 12b is readable and writable memory used as a loading
memory, in which the programs or data are loaded, or used as the
printer plotting memory.
[0042] The south bridge SB 14 serves as a bridge between the north
bridge NB 13 and a PCI bus or other peripheral devices, and is
connected to the north bridge NB 13 via the PCI bus. Note that the
PCI bus is connected to a network interface (I/F) and the like.
[0043] The ASIC 16 has a parallel port connectable two-way
communications Centronics interface compatible, and includes a PCI
target function, an AGP master function, an arbiter serving as a
central player, a memory controller configured to control the local
memory MEM-C 17, two or more DMACs (direct memory access
controllers) configured to rotate image data by hardware logic or
the like, and a PCI unit configured to perform data transfer
between the engine 60 and the ASIC 16 via the PCI bus. Further, the
ASIC 16 is connected to an FCU (facsimile control unit) 30 having
signal transmitter-receivers G3 and G4, a USB (universal serial
bus) 40, and an IEEE 1394 (Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers 1394) interface 50. Moreover, the ASIC 16 is directly
connected to an operations display part 220.
[0044] The AGP bus 15 is a bus interface for graphics accelerator
cards for accelerating graphical processing, and accelerates the
graphical accelerator card by directly accessing the system memory
MEM-P 12 with high throughput.
[0045] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a functional
configuration of a printer driver 300 formed in the information
processing apparatuses (client PCs 1 to 3). The printer driver 300
is configured to perform settings of color printing utilizing a
user interface 301. The printer driver 300 includes a
not-illustrated CPU configured to control operation processes of
components via the user interface 301 belonging to the network
interface (I/F) illustrated in FIG. 2 in accordance with the print
control program read from the above-described HDD; a print setting
value storage part 302 configured to store, upon receiving the
operations control of the CPU, print setting values set as a basic
level associated with the color printing displayed on the display
part (LCD) via a basic setting screen by the operations part and
detailed print setting values set as a detailed level via a
detailed setting screen by the operations part; an exclusive
information storage part 304 configured to store an exclusive
control list as exclusive information about various types of
functions; a print screen controller 303 configured to perform,
upon receiving the operations control of the not-illustrated CPU,
exclusive control to generate a print setting screen based on
various types of setting values acquired from the print setting
value storage part 302 and the exclusive control list of the
exclusive information storage part 304; a print data creating part
305 configured to create, upon receiving the operations control of
the not illustrated CPU, print data for color printing based on the
print setting value and the detailed print setting value; a data
transmitter 307 configured to transmit, upon receiving the
operations control of the not illustrated CPU, the print data to
the printer 100 through the DFE controller via the network; and a
data receiver 306 configured to receive, upon receiving the
operations control of the not illustrated CPU, information from the
printer 100 through the DFE controller via the network.
[0046] In this printer driver 300, the user is able to perform
color setting on the operations part via the user interface 301
while the user monitors the display screen of the display part
(LCD). The print setting value and detailed print setting value set
by specifying operations on the basic setting screen, and the
detailed setting screens in two phases are saved in the print
setting value storage part 302. At this time, the print screen
controller 303 refers to the exclusive control list of the
exclusive information storage part 304, and optionally performs
exclusive control at the time of generating the print setting
screen. The exclusive control may, for example, be displaying
higher-order functions in preference to lower-order functions on
the setting screen when there is an exclusive relationship between
the higher-order functions and the lower-order functions in
contents of the exclusive control list. Further, when a print start
instruction is received via the user interface 301, the print data
creating part 305 creates print data for color printing based on
the print setting value and the detailed print setting value saved
in the print setting value storage part 302, and transmits the
created print data via the data transmitter 304 to the printer 100.
Further, to acquire information from the printer 100, the
information is received via the data receiver 306 from the printer
100, and the received data are displayed on the display part (LCD)
via the user interface 301.
[0047] Meanwhile, the not-illustrated functional CPU in the printer
driver 300 executes the print control program, using the print
setting value storage part 302, and the exclusive information
storage part 304, to cause the print screen controller 303
associated with the above-described user interface 301 to perform a
print setting process in collaboration with one another. The
process includes a screen generator configured to generate two or
more screens capable of receiving two or more instructions for the
print settings from the user; a display controller configured to
display setting items corresponding to each of the screens in a
predetermined order, and switching between the screens in response
to the user's instructions for the setting items; and a print
setting limiter configured to restrict the print settings capable
of receiving the instructions from the user via each of the screens
in the order that the setting items will function.
[0048] Of these, the setting items handled by the display
controller include an imposition setting, a sheet setting, a
finishing setting, a detailed page setting, and a color adjustment
setting; and the predetermined order is to include a layout
setting, the sheet setting, the finishing setting, the detailed
page setting, and the color adjustment setting. The print setting
limiter may limit the lower-order print settings, when there is an
exclusive relationship between the higher-order print settings for
which instructions are received based on the screens corresponding
to the setting items displayed at the higher-order setting
positions in the predetermined order, and the lower-order print
settings for which instructions are received based on the screens
corresponding to the setting items displayed at the lower-order
setting positions in the predetermined order.
[0049] Further, the print screen generator displays the categories
of the user interface 301 in the print process order by receiving
the operation specification of the operations part and initially
displaying an output selection screen associated with the print
output that allows the user to set any value with respect to the
display part (LCD). In collaboration with the print screen
generator, the print setting limiter limits the functions in the
order of the layout setting (the highest priority), the sheet
setting, the finishing setting, the detailed page setting, and the
color adjustment setting, and the predetermined order includes the
layout setting, the sheet setting, the finishing setting, the
detailed page setting, and the color adjustment setting (lowest
priority) in accordance with the display of the categories. As a
result, the display part (LCD) displays the categories of the user
interface in the print process order by initially displaying the
output selection screens associated with the print output. The user
is allowed to set any value on the output selection screen of the
display part (LCD) by the operation specification of the operations
part.
[0050] Further, the print screen generator may present on the
display part (LCD) a screen with which the user may be able to
check conditions at any timing under which the functions of the
lower-order categories are limited. In addition, the print setting
limiter may have functions of a same category of the user interface
301 by placing higher priorities on higher-order print settings for
which respective instructions are received based on the screens
corresponding to the setting items displayed at higher-order
positions in the predetermined order, and placing lower priorities
on lower-order print settings for which respective instructions are
received based on the screens corresponding to the setting items
displayed at lower-order positions in the predetermined order. As a
result, the exclusive control for displaying the setting screen is
performed such that the functions placed in the higher-order
positions may be displayed in preference to the functions placed in
the lower-order positions when there are exclusive relationships
between the functions placed in the higher-order positions and the
functions placed in the lower-order positions.
[0051] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print
process by production printing associated with the user interface
301 in the above-described printer driver 300.
[0052] With reference to FIG. 5, the user initially performs the
output setting by considering a desired output such as creating a
booklet, a magazine, or a ring stitching book in the print process
according to the production printing in the printer driver 300. The
output setting roughly include four steps. The first step includes
an imposition determination (step S501) in which content
determining the layout is specified. Examples of the content
determining the layout include 1-up or 2-up, the page order of the
booklet, speed printing or double printing, finally cut, margin for
each page, and the like. The second step includes a sheet selection
step (step S502), in which the sheet suitable for the output (print
output) determined based on the layout is specified. For example,
when the booklet is output with an A4-size, the sheet is specified
by considering the specification of an A3-size or above. The third
step includes a finishing selection step (step S503) in which an
appropriate post process to be executed is specified. For example,
the user desires to specify saddle stitching for the booklet, or
the user specifies the saddle stitching while setting a staple. Or
when the user desires to create a ring stitching book, the user
specifies a ring so as to enable ring stitching. The fourth step
includes a detailed page configuration (step S504) in which the
user desires to change the content specified in the first to third
steps for each of the pages when the user desires to change any.
For example, when the user desires to create a product having a
sheet of a cover page being replaced with another sheet, a product
having a color sheet for each chapter, and a product having every
plural pages stapled, the user sets the desired product in this
step.
[0053] After the output setting, a sample printing step (step
S505), and a color correction step (step S506) are performed, and
the execution of actual printing, and arrangement and color of the
layout are subsequently checked. Specifically, it may be difficult
to check the color while setting, and hence, the sample printing
(step S505) and color correction (step S506) may be repeated a few
or several times. After the execution of these steps without any
problems, a product printing step (step S507) is subsequently
performed to print a final output (print output), and the final
output is shipped as a commercial product in a final shipping step
(step S508).
[0054] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display
screen of the display part (LCD) considering the print process by
the production printing associated with the user interface 301 in
the above-described printer driver 300. Similarly, FIG. 7 is a
diagram illustrating an example of the display screen of the
display part (LCD) considering the print process by the production
printing associated with the user interface 301 in the
above-described printer driver 300.
[0055] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the display screen of the
display part (LCD) associated with the print process initially
displays an imposition tab, and deliberately presents the output
such as normal, binding, and repeat/speed to the user. Accordingly,
the user will not be confused when the user needs to determine the
desired output in production printing. Further, the display screen
of the display part (LCD) merely displays necessary settings or
necessary values in accordance with the desired output.
[0056] For example, the normal specification illustrated in FIG. 6
includes an N-Up specification, and a double-side specification,
and the like. However, the binding specification illustrated in
FIG. 7 may need to perform a 2-Up specification and the double-side
specification, and hence, they are not included in the setting
screen. Instead, only the functions necessary for binding, such as
magazine imposition or mini-booklet imposition, or an opening
direction, are displayed by the control of the print screen
controller 303. Hence, it may be possible to avoid wrongly setting
the value that is not settable without confusing the operations
with respect to the desired output. Further, in the production
printing, it may be necessary to reduce a print setting time in
order to reduce labor-hours as much as possible. As described
above, the print settings are performed in the order of the print
process such as the sheet, margin/register mark, and finishing in
the imposition tab, which follows a natural operation flow from top
to bottom of the menu. Hence, the production printing utilizes a UI
configuration (i.e., LCD display screen associated with the user
interface 301) that includes no additional setting time due to
inefficient operations from the bottom to the top of the menu and
the like.
[0057] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating as a process flow
a basic concept of exclusive control performed by the print screen
controller 303 associated with the user interface 301 in the
above-described printer driver 300.
[0058] With reference to FIG. 8, when the user initially selects
one of optional parameters applied to values (step S801), the print
screen controller 303 controlling the UI operations (exclusive
control) of the user interface 301 of the printer drive 300 checks
the function excluded by the optional parameter selected by the
user on an exclusive control list that is exclusive information of
the exclusive information storage part 304 (step S802). The
exclusive control list (step S803) includes levels of strength
between the functions. The strong functions may be changed
regardless of the weak functions; however, the weak functions are
restricted by the settings of the strong functions. In this
example, the higher-hierarchical functions (e.g., layout) listed on
the first part of the print process are strong, the
lower-hierarchical functions listed are weak as illustrated in FIG.
6. Of the same-hierarchical functions, the functions located in the
upper positions within the same hierarchy are strong, and the
functions located in the lower positions within the same hierarchy
are weak. Accordingly, only settable parameters or values may be
displayed by limiting the lower hierarchical functions based on the
higher-hierarchal functions selected in the higher-hierarchy of the
print process, e.g., by limiting the sheet-hierarchical functions
based on the layout-hierarchical functions, or limiting the
finishing-hierarchical functions based on the sheet-hierarchical
functions. Further, the print screen controller 303 of the printer
driver 300 performs a process to hide or gray-out display the
functions listed on the exclusive control list (step S804). Then,
the exclusive information is displayed on the UI displayed by the
user (step S805).
[0059] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the display
screen of the display part (LCD) at the time of a gray-out process
performed by the print screen controller 303 associated with the
user interface 301 in the above-described printer driver 300.
Similarly, FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of the
display screen of the display part (LCD) at the time of the
gray-out process performed by the print screen controller 303
associated with the user interface 301 in the above-described
printer driver 300. Further, FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating
still another example of the display screen of the display part
(LCD) at the time of the gray-out process performed by print screen
controller 303 associated with the user interface 301 in the
above-described printer driver 300.
[0060] FIGS. 9 to 11 illustrate the exclusive control illustrated
in FIG. 8 performed in the display screen of the display part (LCD)
associated with the gray-out process. For example, FIG. 9
illustrates an example where the user specifies the binding in the
imposition, and sets a magazine in the binding as the optional
parameters. In this case, the print screen controller 303 checks
the exclusive control list of the exclusive information storage
part 304. However, the exclusive control list describes that no
optional items other than no saddle stitching may be specified in
the staple when the magazine is specified. Hence, the print screen
controller 303 checks the exclusive control list, and deletes
optional items other than the no saddle stitching in the staple
from information subjected to display on the display part (LCD) in
accordance with the contents of the exclusive control list. In
contrast, FIG. 10 illustrates an example where no binding (None) is
specified in the finishing, and thus only no saddle stitching
(Staple: None) is displayed in the staple when the user sets the
staple. Further, FIG. 11 illustrates an example where the binding
is set in the imposition setting, and sheet types such as tracing
paper or label paper that are not settable in the binding are not
displayed.
[0061] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
exclusive control list of the exclusive information storage part
304 associated with the user interface 301 in the printer driver
300.
[0062] With reference to FIG. 12, the excluded 1E functions are
affected by the exclusive control, and have values that disable the
settings as a result of the application of the exclusive control.
Further, the excluding functions indicate the functions that affect
the excluded functions. When the excluding functions have values of
the excluding functions, and the excluded functions have values of
the excluded functions, the excluded functions have default
values.
[0063] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of
the exclusive control (UI control) performed 2E by the print screen
controller 303 utilizing the exclusive control list as a process
flow.
[0064] With reference to FIG. 13, when the user selects a value A
of a function X (step S1301), the print screen controller 303 UI
controlling UI operations (exclusive control) of the user interface
301 of the printer driver 300 searches for the value A and the
associated function X from the exclusive control list of the
exclusive information of the exclusive information storage part 304
(step S1302). As a result of the search conducted, when there is no
excluding function X nor the excluding value A on the exclusive
control list, the exclusive control (UI control) is not performed,
and such a result is displayed to the user (step S1303). However,
when there are the excluding function X and the excluding value A
on the exclusive control list, information associated with the
excluded function X and the default value B and its UI display
method are extracted by the excluding function X and excluding
value A (step S1304). Then, the value of the excluded function X is
changed to the default value B, and the information about the UI
control is displayed in accordance with the UI exclusive process
information (step S1305), which is finally displayed to the user
(step S1303).
[0065] Next, a specific example of the exclusive control is
described with reference to the exclusive control list illustrated
in FIG. 12. In this example, of the excluded function "punch", the
value of the excluded function "2 holes", the excluding function
"imposition", and the value of the excluding function "binding",
when the excluded function "punch" and the value of the excluded
function "2 holes" are already set in the print settings, and the
excluding function "imposition" and the value of the excluding
function "binding" are newly set, the value of the excluded
function "punch" is replaced with the default value "None", and the
display method of the UI control for the excluded function "punch"
becomes "hide" (non-display). This indicates that the excluding
function "imposition" has higher priority (stronger) compared to
the excluded function "punch".
[0066] Further, of the excluded function "staple", the value of the
excluded function "2 on the left", the excluding function
"imposition", and the value of the excluding function "speed", when
the excluded function "staple" and the value of the excluded
function "2 on the left" are already set in the print settings, and
the excluding function "imposition" and the value of the excluding
function "speed" are newly set, the value of the excluded function
"staple" is replaced with the default value "None", and the display
method of the UI control for the excluded function "staple" becomes
"gray-out". This indicates that the excluding function "imposition"
has higher priority (stronger) compared to the excluded function
"staple".
[0067] Hence, the functions residing in the higher-order positions,
and the UI control functions in the higher-order positions in the
same screen have higher priority (stronger). Hence, the exclusive
control may only be performed in a direction from the functions at
the higher-order positions to the functions at the lower-order
positions.
[0068] In the basic function (print control program) of the printer
driver 300 according to a first embodiment, an output is selected
in the output selection screen as the initial display of the
display part (LCD). Hence, the inexperienced operator with the
driver may be able to select a desired output without confusion.
Further, the categories of the user interface 301 are displayed in
the print process order so that the operator may easily and
intuitively find the setting positions. Moreover, the print screen
controller 303 displays on the display part only settable values in
the lower-order process by performing exclusive control from the
imposition of the print process to the lower-order functions in
accordance with the display of the categories. Hence, risk of
performing erroneous settings or erroneously selecting values may
be reduced. As the above-described result, it may be possible to
allow the user of production printing to intuitively and easily
understand the functions of the user interface 301 by only
displaying the settable values, thereby reducing additional
operating time caused by erroneously settings.
[0069] The basic function (the print control program) of the
printer driver 300 according to the first embodiment may serve as a
print control method of performing print control for use in an
information processing apparatus connected to a printer via a
network. The print control method for use in the information
processing apparatus includes causing a screen generator to
generate a plurality of screens via which instructions for a
plurality of print settings are received from a user, the screen
generator being constructed within the information processing
apparatus; causing a display controller to display setting items
corresponding to the screens in a predetermined order, and control
switching between the screens based on the respective instructions
corresponding to the setting items received from the user, the
display controller being constructed within the information
processing apparatus; and causing a print setting limiter to limit
the respective print settings capable of receiving from the user
the instructions via the respective screens based on the
predetermined order of the setting items, the print setting limiter
being constructed within the information processing apparatus.
[0070] Note that the setting items handled by the display
controller in the displaying step include layout setting, sheet
setting, finishing setting, detailed page setting, and color
adjustment setting; and the predetermined order of the display
controller includes the layout setting, the sheet setting, the
finishing setting, the detailed page setting, and the color
adjustment setting. When there is an exclusive relationship between
higher-order print settings for which instructions are received
based on the screens corresponding to the setting items displayed
at higher-order positions in the predetermined order, and
lower-order print settings for which instructions are received
based on the screens corresponding to the setting items displayed
at lower-order positions in the predetermined order, the print
setting limiter limits the lower-order print settings.
[0071] In addition, the print control method for use in the
information processing apparatus further includes connecting the
information processing apparatus via the network to a DFE
controller externally attached to the printer and configured to
perform image processing at high rates; and constructing a printer
driver function configured to perform the plurality of the print
settings by utilizing the user interface 301 connected to the
display part (LCD) and an operations part. In the print control
method, the screen generator in the generating step initially
displays an output selection screen associated with a print output
to which the user is able to optionally set a value by specifying
operations via the operations part, and displays on the display
part (LCD) categories of the user interface 301 in a print process
order. In addition, the screen generator provides the display part
(LCD) with a screen for a user to check, at a desired time, a
condition under which functions of a lower-order category of the
user interface 301 are limited.
[0072] In addition, the print setting limiter in the limiting step
limits functions of a same category of the user interface 301 by
placing higher priorities on higher-order print settings for which
respective instructions are received based on the screens
corresponding to the setting items displayed at higher-order
positions in the predetermined order, and placing lower priorities
on lower-order print settings for which respective instructions are
received based on the screens corresponding to the setting items
displayed at lower-order positions in the predetermined order.
[0073] The above-described steps of the print control method for
use in the information processing apparatus are provided for
constructing the print control program for use in the printer
driver 300 by causing the computers (client PCs 1 to 3) to execute
the print control program. Further, such a print control program
may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable recording
medium capable of being read by the computers (client PCs 1 to
3).
Second Embodiment
[0074] The basic function (a print control program) of the printer
driver 300 according to a second embodiment includes, in addition
to the process functions associated with the various parts
illustrated with reference to FIG. 4 in the first embodiment, a
function capable of allowing the user performing the print settings
to change the display order of the exclusive control list stored in
the exclusive information storage part 304, and a function capable
of generating, when the display order is changed, the exclusive
control list based on the exclusive specification stored in the
exclusive information storage part 304. Note that the exclusive
specification is not used for determining levels (strength) of
priority between the functions, but simply indicates which
functions in the printer have an exclusive relationship.
[0075] To provide such functions with the printer driver 300, when
the print control program is executed to cause the print setting
value storage part 302, the exclusive information storage part 304,
and print screen controller 303 associated with the user interface
301 to perform a print setting process in collaboration, a
positional information storage part is caused to store positional
information indicating one of the screens via which the
instructions for the plurality of the print settings are received;
and a limit information generator is caused to generate limit
information for limiting the plurality of the print settings based
on the positional information and the predetermined order of the
setting items. Thereafter, the print setting limiter limits the
print settings for which the instructions are received from the
user based on the limit information generated by the limit
information generator.
[0076] FIGS. 14A and 14B are diagrams illustrating control
coordinates and menu coordinates indicating positional information
of screens stored in a print setting value storage part, provided
for generating limitation information used in limitation of print
settings performed by the print screen controller 303 associated
with the user interface 301 in the printer driver 300 formed in the
information processions apparatus (client PCs 1 to 3) of a print
system according to a second embodiment.
[0077] As illustrated in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the control coordinates
of each function include function positional information and menu
information in association with a function name. The function names
such as binding, punch, and the like are defined as functions
associated with respective controls, the function positional
information (200,30) for the binding of the function name, and
function positional information (20,90) for the punch of the
function name indicate respective locations of the respective
functions. In this example, the locations of the respective
functions are defined based on the upper left being determined as
(0,0). The function having the binding as the functional name for
the imposition resides in the position (200,30) of the imposition
menu, and the function having the punch as the functional name for
the finishing resides in the position (20,90) of the finishing
menu.
[0078] The menu coordinates of each function are associated with
the menu name to define the menu positional information. The menu
names "imposition", "finishing", and the like define functions
associated with respective controls. The menu positional
information (1,20) for the menu name "imposition", and the menu
positional information (1,50) for the menu name "finishing"
indicate locations of the respective functions, on the basis of the
upper left position being (0,0). The positional information for the
control coordinates and the menu coordinates is stored in the print
setting storage part 302 associated with the interface 301 of the
printer driver 300, and serves as functions of the limit
information generator configured to generate limit information for
limiting each of the print settings based on a predetermined order
of the setting items read by the print screen controller 303. As a
result, exclusive control is performed so as to limit each of the
print settings for which the instructions are received from the
user based on the limit information associated with the print
setting limiter of the print screen controller 303.
[0079] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of
the exclusive control list generated by the print screen controller
303. The exclusive control list is generated with reference to
positional information of screens stored in the print setting value
storage part 302 and an exclusive specification of the exclusive
information storage part 304 associated with the user interface 301
in the printer driver 300 as a process flow.
[0080] As illustrated in FIG. 15, it is assumed that the display
order of the exclusive control list of the exclusive information
storage part 304 is changed by the user performing the print
settings via the print setting screen. Hence, the print screen
controller 303 initially extracts the functions having the
exclusive relationship from the exclusive specification stored in
advance in the exclusive information storage part 304 (step S1501).
In this case, there is an exclusive relationship between the
binding function (exclusive function A) and the punch function
(exclusive function B), and hence, these functions A and B (i.e.,
the binding function and the punch function) are extracted. As a
result, the exclusive function A and the value X of the exclusive
function A, and the exclusive function B and the value Y of the
exclusive function B are extracted from the exclusive specification
(step S1502).
[0081] Subsequently, the print screen controller 303 extracts the
menu positional information of the exclusive function A and the
menu positional information of the exclusive function B from the
menu configuration information of the print setting value storage
part 302 (step S1503). Then, the print screen controller 303
compares the menu positional information of the exclusive function
A and the menu positional information of the exclusive function B
(step S1504). The menu for the binding is the imposition, and the
menu for the punch is the finishing. Thus, the binding and the
punch are associated with the different menus. Accordingly, the
function of the menu residing in the higher-order position in the
UI (the binding in this case) is defined as the excluding function,
the other function (the punch) is defined as the excluded function
(step S1505). As a result, the exclusive function A and the
exclusive function B are created as the excluding function and the
excluded function, respectively, to form the exclusive control list
(step S1506), and the above-described process is repeated until no
combinations of the exclusive functions remain in the exclusive
specification. Note that as a result of the comparison (step S1504)
between the menu positional information of the exclusive function A
and the menu positional information of the exclusive function B,
when the menu positional information of the exclusive function A is
equal to the menu positional information of the exclusive function
B, the menu function at the higher-order position (the binding in
this case) is defined as the excluding function (step S1507), and
the other menu function (the punch in this case) is defined as the
excluded function to form the exclusive control list to include the
exclusive function A and the exclusive function B as the excluding
function and the excluded function, respectively, (step S1506).
Further, in this example, an illustration is given of the binding
function residing in the higher-order hierarchy (higher-order
position) in preference to the punch function. However, when the
menu for the binding is "finishing" and the menu for the punch is
"imposition" in the example illustrated in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the
exclusive relationship between the above-described two functions A
and B is switched, so that the excluding function results in the
punch and the excluded function results in the binding.
[0082] The basic function (the print control program) of the
printer driver 300 according to the second embodiment may also
serve as a print control method of performing print control for use
in an information processing apparatus connected to a printer via a
network. The print control method for use in the information
processing apparatus in this case includes a positional information
storing step of causing a positional information storage part
constructed within the information processing apparatus to store
positional information indicating one of the screens via which
instructions for the print settings are received; and a limit
information generating step of causing a limit information
generator constructed within the information processing apparatus
to generate limit information for limiting each of the print
settings based on the positional information and a predetermined
order of setting items. In the print setting limiting step, the
limit information generator limits each of the print settings for
which instructions are received from the user based on the limit
information in the limit information generating step. The
above-described steps are provided for constructing the print
control program for use in the printer driver 300 by causing the
computers (client PCs 1 to 3) to execute the print control program.
Further, such a print control program may be stored in a
non-transitory computer-readable recording medium capable of being
read by the computers (client PCs 1 to 3).
[0083] According to the above-described embodiments, since only the
settable values are displayed, it may be possible to allow the user
of production printing to intuitively and easily understand the
functions of the user interface, thereby reducing additional
operating time caused by erroneously settings.
[0084] The printer driver 300 according to the above-described
first and second embodiments are applied to the three information
processing apparatuses (client PCs 1 to 3) in the print system
illustrated in FIG. 1. However, the invention is not limited to the
first and second embodiments described above, and the number of
information processing apparatuses may be other than three.
[0085] The present invention is not limited to the specifically
disclosed embodiments, and variations and modifications may be made
without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0086] The present application is based on and claims the benefit
of priority of Japanese Priority Application No. 2014-136150 filed
on Jul. 1, 2014, and Japanese Priority Application No. 2015-097519
filed on May 12, 2015, the entire contents of which are hereby
incorporated herein by reference.
* * * * *